Multicolor Exo Apartment Buildings

Photo courtesy of Mark Kempf/3A Composites USA

The Exo Apartments in Reston, Virginia, present a stand-out, color-shifting finish in ocean hues on metal composite material panels.

For the twin, 16-story, multifamily Exo buildings in Reston, Virginia, the firm R2L: Architects was looking for something different to distinguish the building facades. Furthermore, Exo was to be the first all-residential building to incorporate smart glass windows. Ultimately, the architects chose aluminum composite material panels (ACM) with a color-shifting finish. “The color of the overall design was generated by the smart glass, the cladding color had to look good with the glass. The thought was: If the glass changes colors, why not use metal panels that change colors?” asked Sacha Rosen, AIA, principal, R2L: Architects.

The project incorporates 150,000 square feet of 4mm ACM with a transitional finish pays tribute to the natural color shifts that occur in the world. The smart-glass technology offers four tints ranging from clear to darkening shades of blue. Residents in the 457-unit residential community can control the windows in their apartment through an app that lets in natural light while reducing glare, lowering energy costs, and eliminating the need for shades or curtains. Apartment managers also have access to an overall building control for the windows.

While scattered balconies punctuate the elevations of the buildings, the facades are modularized, which enables efficiencies in fabrication and construction. In the interest of sprucing up the box-like design, the color-changing metal finish was particularly beneficial. “There are so many new developments on the market in the Washington, D.C., area, you have to differentiate your offering,” said Rosen. “The Exo is very contemporary and different from everything else out there. We used the building materials to make it striking.”

Lee Rubenstein, AIA, LEED AP, a principal with the firm adds that many buildings' color palettes add little interest to their settings. Consequently, differentiation is key for this market. “The color-shifting finish provided another degree of variation that worked nicely with this approach, offering an amazing degree of visual depth and interest. In addition, the fabricator presented the option to use two custom paint colors without materially affecting the project schedule or budget, which really helped to define the look and feel of the building,” he says

The MCM R2L: Architects specified uses a PVDF finish with an FEVE clear coat, which enhanced the iridescence and color-shifting effect of the panels. To protect the panels during installation, the contractor took extra precautions to protect the custom color, and high reflectivity finish. This involved careful handling and deploying swing stages on the facade to avoid marring the finish in any way.

The building team’s extra care and coordination paid off. “The panels look fantastic,” said Rosen. “It’s even more intense than I had hoped. It’s very striking and contemporary. Often you have a vision for a design and then have to figure out how to make it a reality. It’s very rewarding as an architect to have access to a unique and special material like this color-shifting finish and to work with a contractor who knows how to use it.”

Northridge High School’s MCM-Cladded Iceberg

Photo courtesy of East Coast Metal Systems

Metal composite material creates an iceberg at North Ridge High School in Dayton, Ohio. The bright white finish on MCM panels makes the Polar Bear school mascot feel right at home.

What is the best kept secret in Montgomery County just outside of Dayton, Ohio, Northridge Local Schools Superintendent David Jackson insists that it’s the large, iceberg-looking sculpture at the entrance to the pre-K-12, 230,000-square-foot school campus.

Paying homage to the school’s mascot, the polar bear, the iconic figure is comprised of different faceted shapes wrapped in 4-mm-thick metal composite material with a three-coat FEVE finish.

The idea came from Levin Porter Architects. CEO Mark Wiseman who pitched the school district. “I kind of have a crazy idea. What would you think if we stick a giant iceberg at the front?”

Jackson loved it and got to work convincing the stakeholders in the school board, district and the Ohio State Commission to approve Wiseman’s centerpiece concept.

“I wanted to create a talking point, something that makes it a destination,” Jackson said, though this bold design idea did involve taking on some risk. “It is hard to envision what it would look like. Would it look like an iceberg? Could it be done within budget?”

Getting started on the design, the architects determined that MCM with a lustrous FEVE fluoropolymer finish would best achieve the dynamic look they were after.

“With that shiny reflective finish, the sunlight would naturally colorize and create greater dimensionality.” FEVE’s built-in graffiti resistance was a large selling point for the school as well,” said Wiseman.

The team developed the form in 3D and then flattened out the images to create the exact panel dimensions and minimize waste.

243 panels totaling 4,000 square feet were manufactured to create the sculpture. The panels were then installed over an intricate framing that rises over 30 feet high, cascading down the building facade and continuing into the interior of the gymnasium.

“The iceberg is iridescent. it looks like ice and it’s incredible,” explains Jackson. “The materials shimmer. I never dreamed it would take on that characteristic.”

Not only do the students love the new sculpture, but it’s been a big hit amongst staff, families and alumni who happily snap their Instagram photos in front of the iceberg.

“For me, the culture pride piece was important. It’s above and beyond what I imagined,” he adds.

The MCM’s superior flatness, color options, and ease of fabrication made it the perfect material for this unique project. The material is also lightweight and durable and can maintain color consistency even after being bent, punched, rolled, and cut into a variety of shapes.

And with the FEVE resin finish, the panels are graffiti-resistant and can withstand prolonged exposure to moisture, UV, and radiation.